Fountain-toothbrush



C. P. BREINING.

FOUNTAIN TOOTHBHUSH.

APPLICATION FILED 1.An. 1.4. 19m.

1 ,340,1 1 5, Patented May 11, 1920.

WMWWW bill/11111111711111,

UZayZZnPfiI- W My av CLAYTON PAUL BBEINING, 0F MILL HALL, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOUNTAIN-TOOTHBBUSH.

Specification of Letters 2mm.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed January 14, 1919. Serial Io. 271,049.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLAYTON, P. Bnnmmo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mill Hall, in the county of Clinton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fountain-Toothbrush, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tooth brushes, and more particularly to fountain tooth brushes which have means for containing a supply of dentifrice which may be fed to the rush proper as needed.

The object is to provide a tooth brush of this class which is ada ted to be used in conjunction with a cartri ge filled with the dentifrice, and which may be easily applied to the brush, after the preceding cartridge has been emptied and removed therefrom, the said cartridge being mani ulated to forcibly eject its contents into t e handle of the brush, thereby displacing the dentifrice therein and causing a thin ribbon of the same to be projecte through the bristles of the brush to assume a position thereon ready for instant use.

A further object is to provide a brush, especially adapted to travelers or military use, having a reservoir for containing a large quantity of the dentifrice which may be easily and quickly replenished by the simple application of an additional cartridge, and which is effectually prevented from leakage or from becoming contami nated, the same being contained wholly within the handle and the cartridge comprising a part thereof, and only enough of the same being ejected for immediate use, which enables the brush to be readily washed and kept in sanitary condition without in any way affecting the contents of the reservoir.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that, while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or mo i fications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specificall pointed out in the appended claims.

In t 0 drawing, in which like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fountain tooth brush constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of the head of the brush and adjacent parts, the bristles being shown in section to expose the outlet orifice for the dentifrice;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the supplemental cartridges used in conjunction with the brush and forming part of the handle thereof, while in use;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same; and

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a brush head 1, which is preferably formed of bone, celluloid, or any other of the materials generally used for this purpose, and having the usual bristles 2 mounted therein in the customary manner. The head 1 is provided with a central longitudinal extension or neck 3, preferably formed integral therewith and of somewhat larger diameter than the thickness of the head and provided in its outer end with an interiorly threaded socket 4, the said socket communicating with a central longitudinal counterbore, providing a channel 5 of smaller diameter than said socket and extending to the center of the head 1 and there communicating with an outlet orifice 6, directed toward the bristles and located centrally thereof. The channel 5 may be round in cross sectional area to render the same easily produced, while the orifice 6 is preferably in the form of a narrow slit, rectangular in cross sectional area and arranged transversely of the head 1, one or more tufts of the bristles 2 being omitted at the center of the head in order to form an open space 7 for the passage of a thin ribbon of dentifrice which will be emitted from the orifice upon the mani ulation of certain parts to be described. e space 7 will allow the said ribbon to reach the active ends of the bristles without being broken and tobend or flex in one direction, or the other to lie flat upon the said active ends of the bristles. thus assuming the most advantageous position on the brush for immediate action upon the teeth when first applying the brush thereto, in the same manner as when a ribbon of tooth paste is applied from an ordinary tube upon an ordinary brush in a wellknown manner.

A hollow handle 8, constituting a reservoir for the dentifrice, is formed of any suitable thin, light metal, preferably round in cross section, and is provided, at one end, with a reduced extension 9, threaded exteriorly and adapted to be screwed into the said socket 4, the internal diameter of said extension being about as much smaller than the internal diameter of the reservoir or handle 8, as it is larger than the diameter of the aforesaid bore or channel 5 formed in the brush head 1. This provides for the gradual reduction in the size of the stream or body of dentifrice being forced throiwh the described parts in a manner to be (escribed, and to cause the same to issue from the orifice 6 in a compact and unbroken ribbon as will be readily understood.

The outer end of the handle or reservoir 8 is provided with a spider 10 comprising an annular ring of a diameter to permit its being forced into the end of the handle and to remain there permanently; it ma however, be necessary to solder or 0t erwise secure the same in such position. Arms 11, formed integrally with the ring of the s )ider 10 and providing spaced passageways t mmbetween, are connected to a centrally located, threaded collar 12 arranged longitudinally of the reservoir and ada ted to receive the threaded'stem 13 carried by a longitudinally movable shellor casing, constituting a cartrid 14.

T e cartridge 14 has an imperforate outer end wall 15, to which the end of the threaded stem 15 is soldered or secured in any other well-known manner, and the exterior, cir-.

cumferential surface of the cartridge is milled or serrated, as at 16, in order to be readily grasped between the thumb and finger of the o erator to turn the same, thus causin 'the threaded stem 13 to advance throu the threaded collar 12 and to draw the said cartrid e along with it, the internal diameter of the atter being such as to snugly fit the external diameter of the handle 8, which telescopes into the same and freely communicates with the interior thereof by reason of the passages through the spider 10.

In order to prevent any leaka e of the dentifrice from either the hand e or the cartrid e, for it must be understood that gasket. It will be seen that the gasket 17 effectually prevents any of the contents from escaping when the parts are being telescoped to feed a supply of dentrifice to the brush, and that the gasket 17 will also act to wipe off any of the same which may have adhered to the outer surface of the handle, when the cartridge is unscrewed for removal from the handle, after all the contents of the same have been used. 7

The contents of the cartridge freely mix or intermingle with the contents of the handle, and, upon turning the former to cause the same to advance along the exterior of the handle, the said contents cause a continuous stream or ribbon to be ejected from the orifice, until the cartridge is entirely emptied, when the same may be unscrewed from its engagement and removed therefrom and thrown away when a new, loaded cartridge may be easil applied to the handle of the brush. Sue additional cartridges, as illustrated in Fi 4 and 5 of the drawing, may be carrie in reserve, by a person and are supplied with a removable cap 19 formed of stamped metal and consisting of an externally milled flanged head 20 adapted to snugly fit around the expanded open end of the cartridge having the rubber gasket 17 therein, and having a centrally-located, internally threaded extension 21 carried by the head and adapted to receive the end of the threaded stem 13 of the cartridge, said st'em projecting sufficiently for such engagement. The removable cap 19 is thus held in position upon the open end of the additional cartridges until it is desired to use the same, when said cap may be removed and discarded, and the cartridge applied to the handle of the brush and manipulated in the manner described. A erforated cover, of any desired'formation, is indicated at 22 in Fig. 2, and may be applied to the brush to protect the bristles thereof when the brush is not in use.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that an extremely simple-and cheaply manufactured fountain brush has been provided, which is especiall adapted for military or travelers use, an which has the added advantage of always having an ample supply of the dentifrice read to be pro ected onto the bristles, and that t e same may be easily replenished without soiling the hands or the brush and without any waste of the dentifrice.

What is claimed is 1. A fountain brush comprising a bristle carrying head having a channel communicating with the bristles, a tubularhandle constituting a reservoir and communicating with said channel a spider carried by the open outer end of the handle and having a threaded sleeve, and a cartridge comprising a tubular casing of a diameter to permit the said handle to telescope therein, and a threaded stem secured centrally in said casing and extending longitudinally through the cartridge and beyond the open end thereof and ada ted to engage the said threaded sleeve 0 the spider to advance the cartridge along the handle, upon a turning movement of the cartridge.

2. A fountain brush comprising a brush head having bristles and an extension provided with a channel extending to the head, a hollow'handle constituting a reservoir connected to the extension and communicating with the channel and provided at its outer open end with a fixed spider having a central threaded orifice, a tubular cartridge closed at its outer end and open at its inner end and having a central, longitudinally disposed threaded stem secured to said closed end and extending to and be end said open end, said cartridge being a apted to snugly fit around the hollow handle and brush, comprising a casing open at one end and permanently closed at the other end, a threaded stem secured to the closed end and extending centrally through the casing beyond the open, end thereof, and a removable cap for closing the open end of the casing and covering the extended end of the stem.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto aflixed my signature in the resence of two Witnesses.

(ILA TON PAUL BREINING.

\Vitnesses:

C. M. Gunmen, E. G. LAUBACH. 

